LA Urban Chicken Enthusiasts

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Saturday, October 26, 2013

Today our three little Angels, did some PR for backyard chickens. They were a big hit with all the kids and their families. Many wanted to pet and hold them and were so excited. Up close they marveled at how pretty their feathers are and loved how soft their feathers are. The little Angels are about 4 months old and their mommy is a rhode island red and their daddy is a white frizzle bantam cochin. They are super friendly but after a little scratchy were pretty bored.

Monday, October 21, 2013

This weekend Sylvia held a wonderful event for the LA Urban Chicken Enthusiasts. She presented information about how to created a Certified Wildlife Habitat in her West Side home. She first removed her grass, added a dry river bed and plants a wide a array of plants and developed a site that included all the elements to support wildlife, water, shelter, forage and a place to raise their young.

She also told us how she designed her coop and even arranged for us to go to her daughter's house to see their coop. It was Sylvia's granddaughter that had thought it would be a great idea for her to have chickens. Sylvia is no stranger to chickens and she had a picture of her with chickens as a little girl.

We had a bleach foot bath to decontaminte shoes before attendees walked around Sylvia's yard and asked for anyone with chickens to have fresh clothes to help with biosecurity to prevent the inadvertent transmission of infections.

Peanut has kicked her little babies to the curb and sees them as just plain annoying. But they haven't forgotten their mommy. One of her little angels still tries to sleep with her even though it means being pecked and that they don't really fit under anymore at 4 months of age!

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

OK Update on Peanut, our special Rhode Island Red hen. I was surprised when she started to act broody. I didn't know that RIRs were ever broody but our wise group let me know that heritage RIRs are great mommies! Now she's got three little cute chicks that she hatched from herself and Frosty our frizzle rooster. They're 3 weeks old now and wonderfully friendly and I might even say i think that they are girls. I could sit all day holding Peanut and the three of them. They like to sit on her back and we all take quicky naps together.

Here's a super cute video of one of the chicks not even a week old dust bathing with her mommy. It's funny to see her get kicked around and loving it. http://www.youtube.co...

Monday, July 8, 2013

It's the big moment when the Long Beach City Council will address the
proposed changes to allow more people to have chickens, goats and bees. The
proposed changes to the municipal code is a bundle right now but the council
members can ask for any kind of changes. We are awaiting the proposed agenda
and we are hoping that there will be a revised version of the changes. You
never know which way things will go and it would be best to email the
representatives ahead of time as they will likely be reviewing opinions now!
Here are people you can contact to show your support of making urban agriculture more
accessible to the people of Long Beach and changes in Long Beach will hopefully
help out people trying to changes codes in other cities. If you are in support
please send the city a message, otherwise they won't know.

The city council meeting is held in the city chambers at 333 W Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA. There is a time for public commentary at which time you can say something in support of chickens, goats and bees. Hope to see you there.

From the last city meeting (below) so there may have been changes but as soon
as there is updated info, I'll change it here.

The Long Beach City Environmental Committee has posted the recommended
changes to the city
code. http://longbeach.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=1321947&GUID=CE765177-D0C8-493F-9CC2-5EF47CB52933&Options=&Search=

Please take a look. One of the strangest things is that water and food need
to be given every 12 hours. That's silly. You need to have your home inspected
before a license can be issued. And the worse, is that the "inspector" can
determine if there is anything else that would be of concern that would not
allow a license to be given in addition to many other things. There is also
something that says that the enclosure needs to be cleaned daily so technically
deep litter wouldn't be allowed.

The City's current ordinance allows livestock in some areas of Long Beach,
but not in others. The Environmental Committee is considering an ordinance that
may standardize the City's livestock ordinance throughout the City, and create
new standards for allowing chickens, goats and bees in residential areas.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

It's very LA to show your love and devotion to your chickens by getting an incredible tattoo. Artist, Mike DeVries, is in Northridge and has created this remarkable image. Almost seems like he's going to peck you if you look at him the wrong way.